# US 12,181,464 B2 · System and method for identifying the presence of insects

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- Number: US 12,181,464 B2
- Document ID: US12181464B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/431,312
- Filed: 2019-06-04
- Published: 2019-12-05
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-04
- Applicants: Robert S. Gold; Joseph Maria Kumar Irudayaraj
- Inventors: Robert S. Gold; Joseph Maria Kumar Irudayaraj
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181464B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/542: with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching
- A01M 1/026: {combined with devices for monitoring insect presence, e.g. termites (bait stations A01M1/2005; detecting other animals in a given area A01M31/002)}
- A01M 1/103: {for crawling insects}
- A01M 1/023: {Attracting insects by the simulation of a living being, i.e. emission of carbon dioxide, heat, sound waves or vibrations}
- A01M 1/04: {Attracting insects by} using illumination {or colours (A01M1/08 and A01M1/145 take precedence)}
- C12N 15/115: Aptamers, i.e. nucleic acids binding a target molecule specifically and with high affinity without hybridising therewith {; Nucleic acids binding to non-nucleic acids, e.g. aptamers}
- C12N 2310/16: Aptamers
- G01N 33/5308: {for analytes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. nucleic acids, uric acid, worms, mites}
- G01N 2333/43552: from insects
- Y02A 50/30: Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

A system and method to detect the presence of bed bugs are disclosed. A system detecting the presence of bed bugs comprises an aptamer solution that includes a base ligand, a fluorophore ligand that includes at least one fluorophore, and a quencher ligand that includes at least one quencher, a liquid application tool, and a fluorescent light source. A method of detecting the presence of bed bugs, comprising providing a liquid application tool that carries an aptamer solution, applying the aptamer solution to a target area, shining fluorescent light on the target area, and observing the target area under the fluorescent light. If there are light spots under the fluorescent light, bed bugs have been present.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A compound including
an aptamer having an affinity for a-histamine associated with bed bug excrement,
a nucleotide strand, at least one quencher joined to at least one of the aptamer and the nucleotide strand, and
at least one fluorescent label wherein the fluorescent label is a fluorophore joined to at least one of the nucleotide strands and the aptamer, the compound being adapted to include a first state wherein the nucleotide strand is joined to the aptamer with the at least one quencher being in sufficiently close proximity to the fluorophore to suppress re-emittance of light by the fluorophore and a second state wherein the nucleotide strand is sufficiently dislodged from the aptamer with the quencher being sufficiency distance from the fluorophore to permit re-emittance of light by the fluorophore.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The compound of claim 1, wherein the aptamer is a histamine aptamer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The compound of claim 1, wherein the fluorophore has an emission in the range between 500 and 550 nm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the container is a spray bottle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the container is a wipe.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the light source is a fluorescent light source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A solution comprising a liquid and the compound of claim 1.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A system for detecting bed bugs comprising a container, the solution of claim 7 positioned in the container, and a light source emitting a wavelength, wherein the at least one fluorescent label is configured to re-emit light in response to the wavelength when the compound is in the second state.